As most of you know from various reports, blogs and newspapers alike, the Town Manager Michael Milone usually comes up for review this time of year. Now I have covered many towns and cities along the way when I was a reporter years ago. I never covered a town that had a Town Manager though.

But as things go, Cheshire’s Town Manager does a decent job of making Cheshire look good. However, I am not saying there aren’t areas that need to be improved. There are!!

First of all, I believe our Town Manager needs to get more in touch with the public and the press. When I covered Orange for the Amity Observer over 10 years ago, I made it a habit of meeting with the First Selectman every Friday to discuss issues. The First Selectman knew this and would always set aside some time for me and other members of the press which was a good thing.

Another thing I hate is this closed door thing. No government official should be closing a door to discuss an issue EVER!! Everything, except personnel issues of course, should be discussed within earshot of everyone.  When I covered  an unnamed town,  it seemed that the minute I went into that community’s town hall the First Selectwoman would see me and abruptly shut her door. I never had any respect for her for doing that because I wondered what in God’s name was so “secret” that I could not be allowed to hear it!!

To this day, and I know it isn’t government issues, but I don’t think it matters, my husband and I discuss EVERYTHING out in the open in front of our children. Well, not the you know what issue, but EVERYTHING ELSE. There are no secrets in our house and no closed doors except the bathroom and bedroom–that is IT!! I mean we are not perfect in our house, but we do discuss all issues with all of our children, not in a belittling way, because we have problems, but in an informative way.

I also got the First Selectman to write a column once a month in my paper discussing Town events. I think this is also a good idea for Cheshire. The Town Manager should write a column at least once a month, maybe even once a week, in the Cheshire Herald so all residents can read about the issues, of course, from his side. I realize the Town Manager is busy, and that he has from time to time done the videos “Your Town Government” which is also great, but that needs to be expanded.

I suggest a combination of Channel 14, the Government Channel and the Cheshire Herald so as to keep the residents informed as much as possible. I believe these two avenues are not used enough.

It also would be nice if once in a while, the Police Chief wrote a column about police issues. Cheshire is starting to come out of its shell, but it still has a long way to go.

Also, when a question is asked of the Town Manager, I noticed sometimes he appears to get a little agitated. Who does he think he is, ME?? I mean, I get agitated sometimes when people ask me questions about my work, but I have a right to, because all my work is perfect, so I am insulted when someone questions what I have done!!!

But, seriously, the Town Manager takes his work seriously as he should. He spends countless hours in his office and during budget season, I am sure he and his staff practically reside at 84 South Main Street. But, there is no need to get “defensive” when a Town Councilor or member of the public ask about a town issue. It is not personal. It is just a question. I don’t think anyone can question the Town Managers integrity.  I believe this man gives 110 percent every day and he does take it personally, as I do, when he believes someone may be questioning a decision he has made or work he has done. I feel the same way about my work because I am a workaholic and I believe the Town Manager is also.

He dedicates himself to this town. But Cheshire needs to keep opening up and not be afraid to speak about issues that some people might deem “image damaging.” Things in life happen, and sometimes, I mean probably most of the time, it is out of our control. Life is life we have to deal with events as they come along.

I know a few people called me and asked me to speak about the one year anniversary of the Petit Home Invasion. Well, I will be brief, but all I can say is that my heart goes out to the Petit/Hawke family. The mother and two daughters, again I say are victims of our society and its attitude towards women and children. Women and children everywhere will always be victims of men who feel they can dominate or intimidate.

Many men who act this way would not dare behave in the same manner towards another man. It is just that plain and simple. When will our world ever learn. It seems that women are the scapegoats for many of our worlds problems. It really galls me when you read stories of a woman who abandoned her child and SHE gets blamed for everything. Well, fine, but what about the MAN!! It took two!!  If you ever have called to report child abuse, they ask you– “What is the mothers name?”

What is the MOTHERS NAME? What about the father? They just assume it is always the woman. Well, let’s face it most of the time it is the WOMAN who tends to the childs care now isn’t it? This is what I mean? Even in the Bible, the WOMAN got blamed for eating the apple.  In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, it was the WOMAN, Ruth, who looks back, against God’s wishes and turns to stone or salt I can’t remember.

It was never the MAN!!

Ok, back to the Town Manager issue, here is an interesting history of the Town Manager form of government.

Click here.